Hughton named manager of month

03 October 2009 12:50

Newcastle caretaker boss Chris Hughton has been named the Coca-Cola Championship manager of the month for September, while Coventry striker Leon Best scooped the player award.
It is the second successive prize that Hughton has claimed having guided the Magpies to the summit of the Championship as they target an immediate return to the Premier League.
Hughton stepped into the breach at St James' Park over the summer following Alan Shearer's brief tenure and has helped stabilise the club on the field despite continued uncertainty behind the scenes.
And he insisted that his squad and backroom staff of Colin Calderwood and Paul Barron deserved as much of the credit for claiming the award.
Team awardHughton told Sky Sports News: "It's very pleasing, but it's very much an award for this group of lads and the staff I've got working with me. It's very much a team award.
"I'm certainly enjoying it at the moment. It's very difficult not to when you've got a group of lads performing as they are, and we're at the right end of the table.
"But I know there are going to be difficult times ahead of us. There are times when we're going to be stretched and perhaps we're going to get the injuries that other teams have already had this season.
"I've enjoyed the challenge, and it has been a real challenge at times, but there are certain aspects which have been made easier by the staff that we have and the group of players that we have."
BestSky Blues striker Best was named Coca-Cola Championship player of the month after netting five times through September.
The Republic of Ireland international held off competition from Kevin Nolan, Matty Fryatt and Grant McCann to claim the prize.